Over 3 lakh hit, Assam flood situation grim

Over three lakh people have been hit in Assam after incessant rains in catchment areas caused all major rivers to flow above the danger level as the flood situation in the state turned grim today.

Official sources said Brahmaputra river was flowing above the danger level at several places including Dibrugarh, Jorhat and Guwahati where over three lakh people have been affected.

In the worst-hit districts of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Jorhat, vast tracts of land were submerged due to breaches in embankments caused by heavy rains in the foothills of the Himalayas in Arunachal Pradesh, they said.

The situation in Lakhimpur is very grave following a breach in the 100-m embankment constructed by Malaysian company Sueskira and 200 villages submerged under gushing waters.

In Majuli, world's largest inhabited river island, the situation was grim with a breach in an embankment with more than a lakh people affected in Jengraimukh, Nayabazar, Fuloni, Halodiati and Kherakotaunkh areas, the sources said, adding personnel of the National Disaster Rescue Force are rescuing the affected people.

In Dhemaji, Semen river inundated vast tracts in Jonai sub-division while River Gai and Jiadhol was also in spate.

The situation in lower Assam districts of Baksa, Barpeta and Udalguri has also worsened following release of water from Kurishu dam in Bhutan.